Farr starts a classic week of sprintcar racing with bang

By
AIDAN FAWKES

ROBBIE Farr started off the biggest week in Australian sprintcar racing with a bang — but he’s aware the challenges only get tougher from here.

ROBBIE Farr started off the biggest week in Australian sprintcar racing with a bang — but he’s aware the challenges only get tougher from here.

The Perth driver, 40, was a convincing winner of the President’s Cup at Avalon on Wednesday night from Americans Tim Kaeding and Kyle Hirst.

He raced again in the Kings’ Challenge at Mount Gambier last night, but with one eye on success in the 42nd Lucas Oil Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic.

“Obviously the Classic is a weekend there will be a lot of cars with speed,” he said.

‘‘You’ve got 20-odd Americans and everyone from around the country is here.

“You need car speed, you need to make the right decisions at the right times, you have to have the set-up spot on.

“Whoever wins the Classic will have a complete weekend.

‘‘I don’t think there is anyone that will come from further back than the third or fourth row.

“There is enough racetrack to get to the front, but the quality of the field will make it hard.”

Farr, driving the East Coast Pipeline Q7 car, said he was rapt with how President’s Cup night came together.

The win was his seventh from “24 or 25 races” for the summer, a stellar start for the former World Series Sprintcars champion. “It was one of those nights as soon as we pulled it out of the box, the car was pretty good,” he said.

“With the quality of the field and the amount of cars and being such a big week of racing, everybody who is anybody is here.”

Farr put the solid results down to the team changing the car set-up, which had made him more comfortable.

Not committing to a series had also allowed him to race with freedom — something not possible when consistency is the priority.

“We’re not racing for points anywhere, we’re racing to enjoy it,” he said.

‘‘We’re pretty carefree in our attitude, which is paying off.’’

Farr is in action tonight.

He was stumped when asked to tip a winner, other than himself, before nominating North Dakota native Donny Schatz, the unofficial world number one.

Reigning World of Outlaws champion Daryn Pittman and Paul McMahan also had claims.

“If anyone could potentially do it Donny has that capability and there are a couple of others,” he said.

“You’ve got first, second and third in the World of Outlaws championship, you’ve got Jason Meyers, a two-time World of Outlaws champion.

“Everyone is watching this week because it’s Classic week. Anyone with anything to do with speedway knows what’s going on.’’